David Axelrod Bio, Wiki, Age, Height, Family, Wife, CNN, Salary, and Net Worth

David Axelrod Profile

David Axelrod is an American former White House official and Political Consultant, Analyst, and Commentator working for CNN in Atlanta, Georgia as a host of the podcast, “The Axe Files.” He joined CNN in the year 2015. Axelrod created the political consultancy firm, Axelrod & Associates in the year 1985.

David Axelrod Wiki

Full Name: David Axelrod
Profession: Former White House Official and Political Consultant, Analyst, and Commentator
Nationality: American
Education: New York’s Stuyvesant High School and The University of Chicago
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: February 22, 1955
Age / How Old is David Axelrod?: 69 years old as of 2024.
Place of Birth: New York City, New York
Country: United States Of America
Height / How tall is David Axelrod?: 6 feet and 1 inch (1.88 m)
Parents: Myril Bennett (mother) and Joseph Axelrod (father)
Wife: Susan Landau
Children: 3 children including Lauren
Salary: $1 Million – $5 Million
Net Worth: $13 Million

Photo of David Axelrod
Photo of David Axelrod

David Axelrod Education

Axelrod graduated from New York’s Stuyvesant High School in the year 1972 and then enrolled at the University of Chicago. He graduated from the university with a major in political science.

David Axelrod Career / David Axelrod Political Affiliation

Axelrod serves at CNN as a host of the podcast, “The Axe Files.” He also works as a director of the University of Chicago’s non-partisan Institute of Politics. He is a veteran of journalism and politics, and he is a former senior advisor as well as chief strategist to President Barack Obama. Axelrod began as a Senior Political Commentator at CNN. 

Upon graduation from college, Axelrod got hired by The Chicago Tribune, where he worked for 8 years. There he covered local, state, and national politics, and in the year 1981, he began working as the youngest political writer. When he was 27 years old, he was promoted to political columnist and City Hall Bureau Chief. In the year 1984, Axelrod went to work with Paul Simon (the campaign of United States Senator) as communications director. It was not long before he got a promotion to co-campaign manager. 

Axelrod created the political consultancy firm, Axelrod & Associates in the year 1985. At the start of 1990, he began working as the media consultant for the all-but-official re-election campaign of Neil Goldschmidt (Oregon Governor). He worked for John Edwards’ presidential campaign in the year 2004.

Axelrod got to meet President Barrack Obama for the very first time in the year 1992 when a Chicago Democrat, Bettylu Saltzman, introduced the two after Barrack Obama had impressed her at a black voter registration drive that he ran.

President Barrack Obama asked for consultation from Axelrod before delivering a 2002 anti-war speech and asked him to read drafts of his book “The Audacity of Hope.” Axelrod became Barrack Obama’s senior advisor to his administration on November 20, 2008. On January 28, 2011, Axelrod stopped working as Obama’s senior advisor, and at the time, he was a top aide to Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.

David Axelrod Personal Life, Family, Parents, and Wife

Axelrod is 69 years old as of 2024. He was born on February 22, 1955, in New York City, New York, United States. He celebrates his birthday on the 22nd of February every year. Axelrod stands at an approximate height of 6 feet and 1 inch (1.88 m).

He was raised in a liberal Jewish family, born to his loving parents, Myril Bennett (mother) and Joseph Axelrod (father). His mom has worked as a journalist at a liberal-leaning 1940s newspaper, PM, and as an advertising executive at Young & Rubicam. His dad worked as a psychologist, was an alumnus of Public School 40 in Manhattan, and was a passionate baseball fan.

Axelrod’s parents separated when he was at the age of 8. Axelrod revealed in 2021 in a CNN op-ed that his dad suffered from severe clinical depression and mental health issues, which made him commit suicide when Axelrod was graduating from college, at the age of 20.

Axelrod is married to his lovely spouse, Susan Landau. They tied the knot in the year 1979. Axelrod first met Susan in college (at the University of Chicago), who was a business student and the daughter of Richard L. Landau (a famous research doctor at the university). Axelrod and his wife take great pride in being mom and dad to their 3 children; Lauren, and the other two whose names are currently under review.

David Axelrod’s Daughter, Epilepsy

Axelrod and his wife, Susan, had their very first child, who was a daughter, Lauren. At Lauren’s seven months of age, she was diagnosed with epilepsy. Axelrod described her as having had brutal seizures, so she required a constant change regimen of medications for some time. The illness made Lauren developmentally disabled but still mainstreamed in school. Long after Lauren completed her high school years, her family placed her in Misericordia. This is a large dormitory-style group home, where Lauren leads an active life.

David Axelrod Salary and Net Worth

Being one of the top journalists for CNN, Axelrod earns an annual salary ranging from $1 Million – $5 Million. Axelrod has an estimated net worth of $13 Million which he has earned through his successful career as a Political Consultant/Analyst/Commentator.

David Axelrod Book, Memoir

Axelrod is an author. He has authored The New York Times best-selling memoir, “Believer: My Forty Years in Politics.”

David Axelrod University of Chicago

Axelrod serves as a director at the University of Chicago. He established a bipartisan Institute of Politics in January 2013 at the university. La Stampa made a report on January 23, 2013, that Axelrod helped Mario Monti (Italian prime minister) with his election campaign. Axelrod announced in the year 2022 his retirement as a director. He stated that he wanted to begin a role as a senior fellow and chair of its advisory board in January 2023.

David Axelrod Twitter

Axelrod has an active Twitter account that has over 1.3M followers. CLICK HERE to view his Twitter account.

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